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Family Group Sheet


Husband:   George Eckart Shafer

Born:   29 Oct 1820 in:   Butler Co., OH
Died:   16 Aug 1901 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Father:   Philip Shafer, Jr. (?-bef 1830)
Mother:   Mary Magdalene Barnhart (1791-1861)

1st Wife:   Mary Elizabeth Kemp

Married:   06 Aug 1840 in:   Butler Co., OH
Born:   13 Apr 1821 in:  
Died:   14 Nov 1844 in:   Butler Co., OH
Father:  
Mother:  

2nd Wife:   Margaret E Wolf

Married:   29 May 1845 in:   Preble Co., OH
Born:   22 Feb 1824 in:   OH
Died:   13 Mar 1885 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Father:  
Mother:  

CHILDREN

1   M       Name:   Philip Henry Shafer (1846-1925)
Spouse:   Sarah Landona Elizabeth Ruble (1862-1933)

2   F       Name:   Emily Margaret Shafer
Born:   1847 in:   Butler Co., OH
Died:   07 Jul 1875 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Married:   28 Aug 1869 in:  
Spouse:   John Howard Thompson
Born:   28 Jan 1846 in:   IN
Died:   18 May 1910 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Children:   Alvin Dora Thompson (1870-1947)
Myra Thompson (1872-1877)
Infant Thompson (1873-1873)

3   M       Name:   John Wesley Shafer
Born:   06 Jan 1850 in:   Butler Co., OH
Died:   6 Nov 1930 in:   Wells Co., IN
Married:   4 Sep 1872 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Spouse:   Amanda Jane Irick
Born:   22 Oct 1852 in:   OH
Died:   13 May 1939 in:  
Children:   Otis E Shafer (1874-1948) m. Ida Taylor m. Edna E Shakel
Lena M Shafer (1876-1946) m. James P Johnston (1867-1945)
Glenna Belle Shafer (1878-1958) m. Roy Layton Karnes (1877-1917)
John Delmar Shafer (1880-1962)
Catherine Shafer (1881-1929) m. Davis Johnson
Jesse Orlo Shafer (1884-1963) m. Minnie V Leyse (1889-1977)
William Edgar Shafer (1886-1909)
Mary M Shafer (1889-1967) m. Chester F Kimmell
Myrth V Shafer (1890-1967) m. Carl McCoy (1881-1956)
Dale Everett Shafer (1895-) m. Mary Stine

4   F       Name:   Mary Alice Shafer
Born:   18 Dec 1853 in:   Butler Co., OH
Died:   01 Nov 1926 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Married:   in:  
Spouse:   Jasper J Jones
Born:   26 Dec 1851 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Died:   19 Apr 1925 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Children:   Vernie Jones (1877-1953)
Charles Jones (1881-1959)
Maggie E Jones (1888-1888)

5   F       Name:   Sarah Martha Shafer
Born:   15 Dec 1857 in:   Butler Co., OH
Died:   02 Aug 1925 in:   IN
Married:   in:  
Spouse:  
Born:   in:  
Died:   in:  
Children:   Clayton Harrell Shafer (1884-1924) m. Alberta Naomi Dean

6   M       Name:   Jacob Edgar Shafer
Born:   15 Mar 1862 in:   Butler Co., OH
Died:   11 Jan 1932 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Married:   01 Oct 1887 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Spouse:   Anna E Poling
Born:   03 Feb 1866 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Died:   18 Sep 1953 in:  
Children:  

Biography and Timeline


From History of Huntington County, Indiana, 1887, page 832:

GEORGE E. SHAFER, who has been a prominent resident of Salamonie Township for twenty-four years, was born in Butler County, Ohio, October 29, 1820. His parents were Philip and Mary M. (Barnhart) Shafer, natives of Buckingham County, Va., of German descent. George spent his boyhood and youth in Butler County, Ohio, principally on a farm, receiving a good education between the age of eight and fourteen. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to Elias Koomler, of Butler County, to learn the tanner's trade. After working as an apprentice six years, he bought the tannery and began business on his own responsibility. His mother kept house for him, and George prospered. After he had been engaged for twelve years in this work he sold out and turned his attention to farming. On August 2, 1849, he was married to Mary E. Kemp, who was called away in 1853; she was for some years in poor health. Mr. Shafer was again married to Margaret Wolf, May 29, 1853. This union was blessed with six children: Philip, Emily M., John W., Mary E. A., Sarah M. and Jacob E., of whom Emily M. is deceased; she died the wife of John Thompson. Mr. Shafer paid this county a visit in 1856, he having a sister living here. In 1863, he sold his proerty in Ohio, and removed his family to this county. He settled in Section 14, and has resided here ever since. He purchased 160 acres of wild land, put up a cabin, and began to clear up a home. By hard work and earnest toil he has succeeded in developing one of the best farms in this locality. When he first landed upon it, a great portion of it was a swamp and under water. His wife died March13, 1885; she was a member of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Shafer is also a member of that church, with which he has been identified over fifty-one years.


Timeline:

  Date:   Place:   Event:
  1820   OH, Butler Co.   Birth: George
  1824   OH   Birth: Margaret
  1840   OH, Butler Co.   Marriage: George and Mary
  1844   OH, Butler Co.   Death: Mary
  1845   OH, Preble Co.   Marriage: George and Margaret
  1850   OH, Butler Co.   Census: George (age 28) farmer, Margaret (age 26)
  1860   OH, Butler Co.   Census: George (age 39) farmer, Margaret (age 35)
  1863   IN, Huntington Co.   Moved: sold land in OH and moved to IN
  1870   IN, Huntington Co.   Census: George (age 49) farmer, Margaret (age 45)
  1880   IN, Huntington Co.   Census: George (age 59) farmer, Margaret (age 55)
  1885   IN, Huntington Co.   Death: Margaret
  1900   IN, Huntington Co.   Census: George (age 79) retired, widowed
  1901   IN, Huntington Co.   Death: George

Family Photos


 

 

Birth Records


 

 

Marriage Records


George E Shaffer and Mary Elizabeth Kemp marriage record, Butler County, Ohio, recorded September 7, 1840:

marriage record

Married on the 6th day of August 1840 by the Reverand George Bonebrake, George E Shaffer to Mary Elizabeth Kemp


George E Shaffer and Margaret Wolf marriage record, Preble County, Ohio, dated May 29, 1845:

marriage record

Who Married: George E Shaffer & Margaret Wolf
Date: May 29th 1845
By Whom: G L Cowgill M.G.


FTM Marriage Index, Ohio 1789-1850:

George E. Shaffer
Mary Elizabeth Kemp
6 Aug 1840
Butler Co., OH
Family History Library film # 0355779

George P. Shaffer
Margaret Wolf
29 May 1845
Preble Co., OH
Family History Library film # 0564963

Death Records


headstone

George E. Shafer Sen.
Died Aug. 16, 1901
Aged 80 Y. 9 M. 17 D.

Margaret Shafer
Died Mar. 13, 1885
Aged 61 Y. & 21 D.

Thompson Cemetery
Huntington County, IN



headstone



Mary E. Shafer
Wife of Geo. W. Shafer
Died Nov. 14, 1844
Aged 23 Y'RS. 7 MO. & 1 DAY


Miltonville Cemetery
Miltonville
Butler County, OH



Margaret Shaffer obituary, Warren News, Thursday, April 2, 1885:

obit


George E. Shaffer obituary, Warren Tribune, Friday, August 23, 1901:

George E. Shaffer obituary, Warren Republican, Thursday, August 22, 1901:

obit obit


John W. Shafer obituary, Bluffton, Indiana Evening News Banner Thursday, November 06, 1930:

John W. Shafer Dies At 1 P.M. Well-Known Resident Passed Away At Home In Villa North. John W. Shafer, 80, a resident of Wells county since 1882, died at one o'clock this afternoon at his home in Villa North following an illness of seven weeks of paralysis. The deceased was well known throughout Wells county. He was born in Butler county, Ohio, January 6, 1850, a son of the late George and Margaret Wolf Shafer, and was 80 years and 10 months of age at the time of his death. He came to Indiana with his parents in 1858 to settle near Warren in Huntington county. He came to Wells county n 1882, and then moved to Bluffton in 1900. His marriage to Amanda J. Irick occurred in Huntington county on September 4, 1872. Surviving besides the widow are the following children: Otis E. Shafer, Bluffton; Mrs. James P. Johnson, Flora, Ind.; Mrs. Bell Karns, Bluffton; John H. Shafer, Miamisburg, Ohio; J. O. Shafer, Ossian; Mary Shafer, Bluffton; Mrs. Carl McCoy, Miamisburg, Ohio; Dale E. Shafer, Germantown, Ohio. Two other children, Catherine and William are deceased. One brother surviving is Jacob Edgar Shafer of Warren. One brother and three sisters are deceased. There are 19 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren surviving. Mr. Shafer was a member of the First M. E. church. Funeral services will be held at two o'clock Saturday afternoon from the home in Villa North in charge of Rev. G. F. Hubbartt. Burial will be at Fairview cemetery.

Census Records


1850 Census, Ohio, Butler County, Madison Township:

  Geo W Shaffer age 28, male, farmer, $3000 real estate, born in OH
  Margaret Shaffer age 26, female, born in OH
  Phillip Shaffer age 4, male, born in OH, attended school
  Emily Shaffer age 2, female, born in OH
  John W Shaffer age 10/12, male, born in OH


1860 Census, Ohio, Butler County, Madison Township:

  Geo E Shaffer age 39, male, farmer, $4000 real estate, $1000 personal estate, born in OH
  Margaret Shaffer age 35, female, born in OH
  Phillip Henry Shaffer age 14, male, born in OH, attended school
  Emily A Shaffer age 12, female, born in OH, attended school
  John W Shaffer age 10, male, born in OH, attended school
  Mary E A Shaffer age 6, female, born in OH, attended school
  Sarah K M Shaffer age 3, female, born in OH
  Mary M Shaffer age 69, female, born in VA


1870 Census, Indiana, Huntington County, Salamonie Township:

  George Shaffer age 49, male, farmer, $7000 real estate, $907 personal estate, born in OH
  Margaret Shaffer age 45, female, keeping house, born in OH
  John W Shaffer age 20, male, at home, born in OH
  Mary Shaffer age 16, female, born in OH, attended school
  Sarah Shaffer age 12, female, born in OH, attended school
  Jacob E Shaffer age 8, male, born in OH, attended school


1880 Census, Indiana, Huntington County, Salamonie Township:

  George Shaffer male, age 59, married, farmer, born in OH, parents born in VA
  Margaret Shaffer female, age 55, wife, married, keeping house, born in OH, parents born in OH
  Sarah M Shaffer female, age 22, daughter, single, servent, born in OH, parents born in OH
  Jacob Shaffer male, age 18, son, single, farm laborer, born in OH, parents born in OH


1900 Census, Indiana, Huntington County, Salamonie Township:

  Geo E Shafer head, male, born Oct 1820, age 79, widowed, born in OH, parents born in VA, can read & write
  Jacob E Shafer son, male, born Mar 1862, age 38, married 12 years, born in OH, parents born in OH, farmer, own farm free of mortgage
  Anna E Shafer daughter-in-law, female, born Feb 1866, age 34, married 12 years, no children, born in IN, parents born in IN
  Sarah Shafer daughter, female, born Dec 1857, age 43, single, born in OH, parents born in OH
  Clayton Shafer grandson, male, born Oct 1885, age 15, single, born in IN, parents born in OH, farm laborer

Notes and Other Records


To do:

  • Search for parents of Margaret E Wolf

Proof of lineage notes:

  • 1845 marriage record shows George E Shaffer and Margaret Wolf married.
  • 1850 and 1860 census show Phillip Henry Shaffer living with George E and Margaret Shaffer.
  • 1887 History of Huntington County states George E Shafer married Margaret Wolf, and they are parents of Philip, Emily, John, Mary, Sarah, and Jacob.
  • 1901 obituary for George E Shaffer states that he married Margaret Wolfe.
  • 1914 History of Huntington County states that George E Shafer and Margaret Wolfe are parents of Jacob E Shafer who is brother of Philip H Shafer.
  • H. Brown and Sons Funeral Home records state that Philip H Shafer is son of George E Shafer and Margaret Wolfe

Sometime in the 1850s, George went to visit his sister in Indiana and liked it there. George sold his land in Ohio, about 60 acres, and moved to Huntington Co., Indiana with his family in 1863. Margaret and the younger children traveled by train while the others drove the wagons with their belongings. He purchased the SW quarter of section 14 in Salamonie Twp. from Daniel Stroup. They lived in a log cabin for 11 years before building a new home on a ridge once inhabited by beaver. Indians camped on a small hill northeast of the house. Giant willow trees grew in a near by swamp. Part of their life included the task of clearing, draining and grubbing the land for farming.


From the History of Huntington County, Indiana 1914:

JACOB E. SHAFER

Three miles northeast of Warren -at stop No. 18 on the Marion, Bluffton and Eastern Traction Company, is the situation of the country home of Jacob E. Shafer and family. As a farm it represents the highest standards of cultivation and productivity, and not only for its commercial value but for its long associations with the Shafer name is it prized by its present owner. Mr. Shafer was an infant when brought to this farm by his parents over fifty years ago, has grown up and spent all his life in one community, and in all that time his neighbors have never known anything but good of him and his relations with business, church, social and the moral interests of the community. He is a fine class of Huntington county citizen.

Born in Butler county, Ohio, March 18, 1862, Jacob E. Shafer is one of the six children of George E. and Margaret (Wolfe) Shafer . He was the youngest in the family, and was one year of age when George Shafer brought the family to Huntington county in 1863. The father paid a thousand dollars for a quarter section of heavily timbered land in Salamonie township, and it is a portion of that old homestead which is now owned and occupied by Jacob E. Shafer. The woodlands and the cultivated fields of the old farm provided a stimulating environment for the youth of Jacob Shafer, and when not otherwise employed by the duties of home he attended district school No. 6 of that township. His education was finished at the age of eighteen, and thenceforward he was a practical worker and more than paid his way both as a youth and as a man. When he was twenty he started out for himself, and practically ever since has farmed the same land. His homestead comprises sixty acres of the original one hundred and sixty bought by his father in 1863.

On October 1, 1887, Mr. Shafer married Anna E. Poling. She was born in Rock Creek township of Huntington county February 3, 1866, a daughter of Silas and Margaret (Goss) Poling. Her early years were spent on a farm in Wells county. When she was nine she lost her mother, and thereafter made her home with Almeda Irick, and previous to her marriage earned her own way by working at a weekly wage. Her education was acquired in the common schools of Wells county. In politics, Mr. Shafer is one of the ardent republicans, and has taken much interest and has been influential in both township and county politics.


Preble County, Ohio, Common Pleas Court Records 1810-1850, Part II Chancery Records, p.65:
(possible parents of Margaret Wolf: John D. Wolf and Nancy)

court record


1863 Civil War draft registration record:

Indiana, Huntington Co., District 57, George E Shafer, age 42, white, farmer, born in Ohio
Civil War Draft Registration

Sources and Credits


  • Shafer Family, written around 1966. Work by: unknown.
  • History of Huntington County, Indiana, 1887.
  • History of Huntington County, Indiana, 1914.
  • Butler County, Ohio, marriage record, recorded September 7, 1840.
  • Preble County, Ohio, marriage record, May 29, 1845.
  • FTM Marriage Index, Ohio 1789-1850.
  • 1850 Census, Ohio, Butler County, Madison Township.
  • 1860 Census, Ohio, Butler County, Madison Township.
  • 1870 Census, Indiana, Huntington County, Salamonie Township.
  • 1880 Census, Indiana, Huntington County, Salamonie Township.
  • 1900 Census, Indiana, Huntington County, Salamonie Township.
  • Margaret Shaffer obituary, Warren News, Thursday, April 2, 1885.
  • George E. Shaffer obituary, Warren Tribune, Friday, August 23, 1901.
  • George E. Shaffer obituary, Warren Republican, Thursday, August 22, 1901.
  • H. Brown and Sons Funeral Home Records.
  • Cemetery headstone photo by Tom.
  • 1863 Civil War draft registration record.
  • FindAGrave.com.